With the first Android-powered phone set to go on sale tomorrow, Google has released the Android source code to encourage developers to develop applications based on the Android operating system. Not only that, developers can help improve the Android operating system by submitting new features, new ideas and bug fixes. I believe the announcement is no longer a surprise since Google has long stated that it will make the Android source code available.

Popularity: 5% [?]

IMOVIO has launched the iKIT, a device that offers consumers an alternative to a smartphone or mini-PC. The device which measures 95mm x 65mm and 15.5mm high is small enough as an alternative to subnotebooks. Major features include a full QWERTY/AZERTY keyboard, 8GB card slot, 2.8-inch QVGA display and it is WiFi and HSDPA enabled.

The iKit is a $175 Linux-based system with a built-in Webcam and a range of applications like Web browsing, e-mail and Instant Messaging.

“We designed the iKIT to be an alternative to a smartphone or mini-PC,” said Nigel Newby-House, Head of Design at IMOVIO. “It’s a beautifully designed mobile device that provides all the multi-media and messaging capabilities a mobile consumer needs. But at a much better price.”

The device can connect to the Internet using a standard Wi-Fi connection or your cell phone’s broadband connection via Bluetooth.

Below are the iKit’s features and specifications:

Processing
- Processor: Marvell PXA270 312MHz
- Operating System: Linux 2.4.19
- User Interface GUI: Proprietary plus Trolltech QT/E 2.3.8

Connectivity
- Bluetooth® 2.0 with EDR, supports wireless stereo headset
- (A2DP) & DUN profile
- WIFI® IEEE 802.11 b/g

Keypad
- QWERTY/AZERTY + numeric keys, other languages optional

Memory Internal
- ROM: 128 MB, RAM: 64 MB SDRAM
- User data: 12MB, User media files: 23MB

Memory External
- Micro SD (up to 8GB)

Display
- 2.8 inch QVGA, TFT, 260,000 colors, landscape

Dimensions & Weight
- 95mm (L) x 65mm (W) x 15.5mm (H)
- 113g (with battery)

Connector
- Mini-USB 1.1 used for charging, PC data exchange and wired stereo headset.

Battery
- 1050 mAh, Li-ion
- Standby Time: up to 250h
- Power-up Time: up to 3h (25% data download per hour)
- Gaming Time: up to 4h (java game)
- Charging time: 2.5-3.5 hr to full charge from flat with device power off

Colors
- Velvet Black, Satin White – other colors available to order

Browser
- Web browser Opera Mini 4.1

Messaging
- POP3 / IMAP / SMTP email protocols
- Supports MSN IM

Audio
- Supports MIDI, WAV and MP3 formats
- 16mm speaker built-in, monophonic

Imaging
- Supports JPG, BMP, GIF and PNG formats
- 0.3 MP fixed focus camera (Option)
- Digital zoom: Up to 3X smooth digital zoom with 7 steps

Video
- 3GP, MP4 and AVI format, Maximum size QVGA
- 25 fps video playback for QVGA size video clips
- Support full-screen display

Java
- JTWI / JSR75 compliant

PC Sync
- With Outlook 2000/2003 & Outlook Express v6 (emails, contacts, calendar)

Personal Features
- Calculator
- Media folder
- Notepad
- World clock
- Alarm clock
- Stop Watch
- Countdown Timer

Contact List
- Maximum 2,000 records

Calendar
- Maximum 1,000 events

Popularity: 4% [?]

After three years of development, OpenOffice version 3.0 has been released and is set to challenge Microsoft Office.OpenOffice 3.0 suite includes several applications like a word processor (Writer), spreadsheet (Calc), presentation package (Impress), drawing (Draw), and database tools (Base). Multiple users can now view and edit the same document under OpenOffice version 3.0. The new version supports OpenDocument Format (ODF) 1.2 file format and Office 2007 OOXML which means it can read Microsoft Office 2007 or 2008 .docx, .xlsx, .pptx or other new file formats.

OpenOffice is a FREE software and you can download a copy for Windows, Mac OS X, and other operating systems and languages.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Mandriva Linux 2009 has been released and is now available for download. Mandriva Linux 2009 edition includes the modern and cutting-edge graphical environments like KDE 4.1.2 and GNOME 2.24. Aside from these desktop environments, Mandriva Linux 2009 includes LXDE, a lightweight and modern desktop that fits like a glove on old computers.

Mandriva Linux is a freely available, community-based Linux distribution based on the RPM package management system.

Below are the download sites where you can download Mandriva Linux 2009:

DVD ISO download

• Visit mirror to download Mandriva ISO image (32 bit DVD ISO ~ 4.3 GB)
• Visit mirror to download Mandriva ISO images (64 bit DVD ISO ~ 4.3 GB)

Mandriva 2009 CD ISO download

• Download Mandriva Linux 2009 CD # 1 (699M) and CD #2 [691M] - both are 32 bit ISO images.

Mandriva 2009 DVD ISO BitTorrent download

• Download from BitTorrent i386 32 bit DVD (requires a BitTorrent client)
• Download from BitTorrent 64 bit DVD (requires a BitTorrent client)

Mandriva Linux 2009 Download Mirrors

• Please download and release page for further information.

Mandriva Linux 2009 will definitely compete with the upcoming Ubuntu 8.10 which will arrive on October 30.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Linus Torvalds, the person who initiated the development of the Linux kernel when he was still a student of Helsinki University in Finland has started blogging. You can find his blog at http://torvalds-family.blogspot.com/

Popularity: 2% [?]

GNOME, a popular Linux Desktop Environment has gotten a new version. After 6 months of hard work, GNOME developers announced the availability of GNOME version 2.24. The new version of GNOME desktop brings a lot of new features, new language translations and updated documentation.

Below are some major features included in GNOME 2.24:

• Empathy Instant Messenger - a Pidgin-like IM client based on the Telepathy communications framework.
• Ekiga 3.0 - GNOME’s improved SIP audio/video conferencing client, it has a new interface, supports PBX line monitoring, H.264/H.263+/MPEG-4/Theora video codecs and accelerated video.
• Track Your Time Better - a new Panel applet that will show you the tasks that you have been working on and how much time you’ve spent on them. These tasks can also be organized in groups (by type of activity, client’s name, etc).
• Improved File Management - the Nautilus, GNOME’s file manager brings tabbed navigation and compact list view.
• Smarter Deskbar - includes a few interesting additions, such as Google Search (and code search), a calculator, and Yahoo! and Wikipedia suggestions.
• New Screen Resolution Controls - GNOME 2.24 introduces X.Org’s XRandR 1.2 specification, allowing users to set up monitors in many configurations.
• Extra Pretty - good looks has been a priority for GNOME 2.24, which includes new and improved artwork and themes. Also, a very nice desktop background selection has been provided for a better and more eye-pleasing experience.
• New Sound Theme Support - Gnome sound themes are now being handled by libcanberra,  allowing you to watch a fullscreen movie while leaving the sound notifications on.
• Better Digital TV - Totem includes support for remote text subtitling and high-resolution YouTube videos.

Click here to read the complete release notes.

Popularity: 2% [?]